Jackals Snatch Victory Away from Royals, Prevail 4-3 in Shootout
February 20, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release
Reading, Pa. - The Elmira Jackals (30-19-2-2) fought back from a late two-goal deficit on Monday afternoon at the Sovereign Center against the Reading Royals (24-22-3-4), forcing overtime with 53 seconds to go in regulation before winning in a shootout, 4-3. With the victory, Elmira took back possession of first place in the Atlantic Division from the Wheeling Nailers by one point.
The Royals took a 1-0 edge into the first intermission, striking moments after Elmira went scoreless on consecutive power plays. Denny Urban took a puck from the blue line, skated toward the right side of the net, and centered a puck for Kenny Ryan who tapped it in past Timo Pielmeier to give Reading the lead at 10:38.
Reading took advantage of its first power play early in the second period, as Olivier Labelle pushed in a backdoor feed from Mikael Bedard at 1:06, extending the lead to 2-0.
Corey Cowick snapped a puck in from the left circle past the stick of Jussi Rynnas just 1:29 into the third period to put Elmira on the board, 2-1.
The Royals seemed to take any positive momentum generated by Cowick's goal away from the Jackals when Casey Haines' long wrist shot sailed off the cross bar and in at 7:43, giving the Royals a 3-1 lead.
Elmira chipped into the deficit as Dustin Gazley fired in a rebound from the left circle off of Rynnas' glove and in to make it 3-2 at 15:33.
The Jackals used their most improbable goal of the season to send the game into overtime. With under a minute remaining, Jordan Pietrus attempted to dump a puck in from center ice with Pielmeier skating to the bench for the extra attacker. The puck bounced in front of Rynnas, turned past him, and skipped into the net, as Pietrus netted the equalizer at 19:07, tying the game 3-3.
After a scoreless overtime period, Elmira skated through its longest shootout of the season. Kyle Reeds was the only skater to score for either side, finishing off a deke by firing a puck past Rynnas' glove side to give the Jackals the lead in the top of the eighth round. Pielmeier denied Haines to preserve the perfect shootout, as Elmira earned the 4-3 victory.
Pielmeier (11-8-1-2) secured his first shootout victory in three attempts this season. He made 28 saves in regulation and overtime. Rynnas (7-4-0-1) turned aside 36 of 39 shots in suffering his first shootout loss in two chances in 2011-2012.
Elmira returns home this Wednesday to host the Greenville Road Warriors for the first and only time in the 2011-2012 season at First Arena. To reserve your seats call (607) 734-PUCK (7825), visit the First Arena Box Office, or log onto JackalsHockey.com.
Notes:
Gazley extended his point streak to a career-best 10 games (6g-8a)...Demkov extended his to a North American-career best eight games (3g-5a)...Reeds' shootout goal was the first of his career...The win was Elmira's league-leading eighth in which it trailed after two periods and first since Jan. 6...The Jackals have won consecutive games in Reading in which they have trailed by two goals...The goal by Pietrus was the first by a Jackals forward other than Cowick, Demkov, or Gazley since Feb. 11...The shootout win was Elmira's league-best ninth of 2011-2012...The Jackals are 3-0 in shootouts at the Sovereign Center this season
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from February 20, 2012
- Trio of Aces Recognized by ECHL - Alaska Aces
- Royals Radio Recon Ready to Wipe the Slate Clean - Reading Royals
- Royals Impeached by Elmira in Presidents' Day Shootout, 4-3 - Reading Royals
- Nathan Lutz and Darcy Campbell Honored as Silver Skaters - Chicago Express
- ECHL Transactions - February 20 - ECHL
- Edmonton Recalls Thunder Goaltender Olivier Roy to Oklahoma City - Stockton Thunder
- K-Wings Weekly - Kalamazoo Wings
- K-Wings Visit Huntington Bank - Kalamazoo Wings
- Silver Skaters and Golden Goalie Are Announced - Kalamazoo Wings
- Cyclones Conquer Gladiators, 3-2 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Express Weekly: Chicago Earns First Win in Kalamazoo, Hosts Florida - Chicago Express
- Eves Leads Clones Over Gwinnett, 3-2 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Colorado Eagles Weekly Update - Colorado Eagles
- Express Send Romano Back to Bridgeport - Chicago Express
- Jackals Snatch Victory Away from Royals, Prevail 4-3 in Shootout - Elmira Jackals
- Road Warriors make run to top of conference - ECHL
- Greenville Road Warriors Weekly - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Condors in the Community: Tip-A-Condor on Tuesday at Hooters - Bakersfield Condors
- Condors Weekly: Winning Streak Ends in Alaska - Bakersfield Condors
- Stingrays Weekly: Pink in the Rink and Bike Night Highlight Weekend for Stingrays - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL, MeiGray Group Announce First 16 Silver Skaters - ECHL
- Gladiators Weekly Update - Atlanta Gladiators
- Walleye Weekly - Toledo Walleye
- Jackals Game Preview: Elmira at Reading - Elmira Jackals
- Cyclones Game Preview - Cincinnati Vs. Gwinnett - Cincinnati Cyclones
- ECHL Today - February 20 - ECHL
- Grizzlies Again Rally in Las Vegas, Falling Just Short - Utah Grizzlies
- Midnight Circus Ends in 4-3 Wranglers Victory - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Aces Hang on to Beat Condors 4-3 - Alaska Aces
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
